Sue Stuart-Smith

🌱GARDENERS’ QUESTION TIME AT THE SERGE HILL PROJECT 🌱 We are honoured that this week’s new episode of Gardeners’ Question Time @bbcradio4 , was recorded at the Serge Hill Project For Gardening, Creativity and Health @sergehillproject with @suestuartsmith @tomstuartsmith @tomstuartsmithstudio as guest panellists and broadcast today to mark World Mental Health Awareness week. This extra special episode features a generous and brave the final appearance from our dear friend and much-loved GQT panellist since 1994, @matthewbiggs55 , who recorded the episode surrounded by his longtime friends, colleagues and members of his family. In this episode, Matthew Biggs speaks about his experience of his cancer diagnosis and treatment and how living with terminal illness has affected his mental and physical wellbeing. This edition is chaired by @petergibbs3420 and @kathy.clugston and alongside Matthew features a panel of gardening experts @anneswithinbank @pippa.greenwood Chrstine Walkden, alongside Tom and Sue. Tune in live at 3pm today or catch up on BBC Sounds to hear the episode, where the incredible GQT team answer your horticultural questions and go on a tour of the Serge Hill Project, to investigate how and why gardening can be so good for our mental health. Link in bio. 📷 @rebeccafincham_ #sergehillproject #worldmentalhealthawarenessweek #gqt

Sue Stuart-Smith is used to welcoming visitors to the Serge Hill Project, but this is a rare glimpse into her own private sanctuary. She walks me through the “organised chaos” of her vegetable garden, which has been self-seeding for twenty-five years, and shows me trees planted by the family across the estate over the last thirty years. This isn’t just a tour of plants. It’s a look at the restorative act of putting down roots. To see the full tour of Sue’s private garden, visit the Homing Patreon: patreon.com/HomingWithMatt.

Psychiatrist Sue Stuart-Smith on why gardening gives us an intrinsic sense that something better is coming. 🌱 You can watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ADPuV4tNgR8

I’m just back from a fascinating few days in Cork, Ireland. Rain has not been in short supply there this spring (unlike home in Hertfordshire) and the woods and gardens were looking wonderfully lush and green. I was there to talk about #thewellgardenedmind and @sergehillproject for a public conversation event about nature, gardening and wellbeing at @UniversityCollegeCork . The panel discussion afterwards brought together interesting perspectives from psychology, anthropology, sociology and art history, thanks to the thoughtful contributions from Prof. Maggie O’Neill, Dr Sabine Kriebel, Dr Susannah Chapman and Dr Naomi Masheti coordinator for @corkmigrantcentre The campus has some magnificent old trees including this lovely Tulip tree (2). There is also a community veg garden for staff and students, as well as a rather lovely Willow garden (3) designed as a secluded breakout space for students. I also loved visiting the legendary @BallymaloeCookerySchool and walking round the farm and gardens (4-6) seeing the shell house (7) and chatting to the inspirational @darina_allen , whilst eating the most delicious lunch of potato soup with wild garlic pesto, asparagus custard, roast lamb and lemon verbena sorbet, to name only a few of the dishes. Then, yesterday, I took the ferry to Garinish island, where the garden was designed by Harold Peto in 1910 (8-12) What a magical place! Huge thanks to Mary Colette Sheehan from UCC for organising this very memorable trip.

Had the most uplifting experience @sergehillproject on Saturday playing The Well Gardened Mind concert with Dr Sue Stuart-Smith, who read from her resonant and beautiful book, her words weaving in and out of the music. The April sun was gently shinning and filled The Apple House and the wonderful artwork by Anne McKenzie with stunning light. We were surrounded by beautiful gardens and birdsongs. It couldn’t have been more lovely. Programme of works by @cherylhoad , Lili Boulanger, @raymondyiucomposer , Debussy and Bach. A real privilege to have been part of this fundraising concert to raise awareness for the important work of the Sergehill Project on gardening, creativity and health. 🌱❤️ @suestuartsmith #music #nature #wellgardenedmind #piano #concert

A Well-Gardened Mind: Nature’s Role in Mental Health with Sue Stuart-Smith⁠ ⁠ In this gentle and deeply grounding episode, Gabby @radiogabby sits down with psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and bestselling author Sue Stuart‑Smith @suestuartsmith to explore the profound connection between gardening, nature, and our mental wellbeing. Drawing on her acclaimed book The Well-Gardened Mind, Sue reflects on her journey from clinical psychiatry into the therapeutic world of gardening, sharing powerful stories of people who have found healing, resilience, and renewed purpose through tending to plants.⁠ ⁠ Together, Gabby and Sue delve into the emotional and psychological benefits of reconnecting with the natural world. They discuss how gardening can soothe the nervous system, why sensory experiences in nature offer such deep comfort, and how even the smallest moments of green space can help us feel more regulated and grounded. Sue explains the symbolism and emotional power of flowers, the importance of community gardens in fostering connection, and the impact that modern screen culture and urban living have on our mental health.⁠ ⁠ Sue Stuart‑Smith is a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and the author of The Well-Gardened Mind, a Sunday Times Bestseller that was named one of The Times’ 37 best books of 2020 and awarded Gardening Book of the Year by The Sunday Times. She originally studied English Literature at the University of Cambridge before qualifying as a doctor and spending many years working in the National Health Service, where she became the lead clinician for psychotherapy in Hertfordshire. Sue now teaches at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London and works as a consultant at DocHealth, a not‑for‑profit psychotherapeutic consultation service for doctors.⁠ ⁠ Whether you’re an experienced gardener or someone who has never planted a seed, this episode offers a calming reminder that nature is always available to support us. It’s a conversation about what it means to be human, to be rooted, and to rediscover the grounding power of the natural world. #nature #gardening #outdoors #greenspace

‘Together, we can change the world. Will you join us?’ Isabella Tree Happy publication day to brilliant author and garden designer @lottie_delamain for the publication of her hopeful, joyful and expertly researched book Gardens That Can Save The World out today from @thamesandhudson . We are honoured and humbled to have our co-founder @suestuartsmith interviewed as one of the Green Thinkers in the book and for our work @sergehillproject to be one of the 65 global projects / gardens featured. Join us for a unique event to celebrate publication of this book and explore the ways in which green spaces can be the solution to some of our most pressing problems, from loneliness to climate change, with @lottiedelamain @suestuartsmith @kalihamertonstove of @theglasshousebotanics , whose great work is also featured in the book. Our Gardens That Can Save The World event takes place on Tuesday 15 September 2026, 6pm-8pm in The Apple House, the home of The Serge Hill Project. Tickets include the talk, a book signing, a welcome drink and the chance to explore Tom Stuart-Smith’s Plant Library of over 2000 perennials and bulbs. Link in bio. See you there! All profits from your ticket purchases help @sergehillproject provide educational and therapeutic opportunities to schools and community groups who have least access to nature. #sergehillproject #theplantlibrary #gardensthatcansavetheworld #lottiedelamain

🌱The View From The Hospital: How Can Plants And Gardens Transform Healthcare?🌱 ❕It is Less than a month until our upcoming fundraising evening for the redevelopment of the gardens at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Hertfordshire. 📆 Wednesday 1 April 2026, 5:30pm-7:30pm 📍 The Apple House, Sergehill Lane, Bedmond, Hertfordshire 🌿Join us for a panel discussion exploring how gardens and nature can transform healthcare environments. Chaired by gardens consultant @seewhygarden , the conversation will bring together @racheldethame , @suestuartsmith , @jinny.blom and Darrell Gale, Director of Public Health for East Sussex to explore how we can make hospitals and their surroundings greener, more beautiful and healing spaces. 💚All donations and profits from ticket sales will support the redevelopment of the gardens at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Hertfordshire, a project spearheaded by @matthewbiggs55 ✨ Tickets include access to The Plant Library, a living catalogue of over 2000 species of perennials and bulbs, a pop-up plant sale from @sunnysiderural Orchard Nursery and a welcome drink. 🎟️ To find out more and book tickets, visit our website or see the link in bio. This project has been supported by @sergehillproject @tomstuartsmithstudio @landformuk @sunnysiderural @alexatchelsea @vicclarke_ @jasoningram among many others. #mountvernoncancercentre #thesergehillproject #hospitalgarden #therapueticgarden

🌱 NEW WORKSHOP: Introduction to Nature Writing with Nic Wilson and Sue Stuart-Smith🌱 📆 Thursday 17 September 2026, 10am–4pm Join us for a day in the Apple House and gardens surrounding The Serge Hill Project, for our first nature-writing workshop. This workshop will be led by @dogwooddaysgardener Guardian country diarist and author of the nature memoir, Land Beneath The Waves and @suestuartsmith psychotherapist, co-founder of @sergehillproject and author of The Well Gardened Mind. ✍️ Aimed at beginners as well as developing writers, this is a creative day for anyone who has ever felt moved by the wonders of the natural world and had a desire to capture it more deeply. 🌸 You will be guided through writing exercises and techniques, including honing powers of observation, playing with words, reflective journal keeping, navigating inner landscapes, sensory explorations and scientific research. 🌿 The workshop also includes a curated reading list, refreshments, a home cooked vegetarian lunch and chance to explore and send time in The Plant Library of over 2000 varieties of perennials and bulbs. 🎟️ Find out more and book your tickets via our website or link in bio. 📍 The Apple House, Sergehill Lane, Bedmond, Hertfordshire WD5 0RZ 💚All profits raised go on to support the work of @sergehillproject #naturewriting #thesergehillproject #hertforshire #suestuartsmith #nicwilson

We’re thrilled to share that The Apple House is a Finalist in the 2026 ArchDaily Building of the Year Awards More than 70,000 nominations from 100 countries were submitted this year, narrowing 3,000+ projects to just 75 finalists. The Apple House is one of five finalists in Healthcare Architecture. Thank you for all the support - If you’d like to further support the project, an additional round of voting is open until 18 February at 18:00. [LINK IN BIO] The Apple House took 7 years from first idea to completion. Early on, it became clear there was real need and tremendous support for a place like this. @suestuartsmith ; brilliant book The Well Gardened Mind helped shape the thinking from the beginning and continues to guide the project today. This has been a hugely collaborative effort: thank you to @tomstuartsmith and his brilliant team @tomstuartsmithstudio (landscape), @structure.workshop (engineering), to Gordon Clark and team along with so many trades, builders and craftspeople whose care and skill made it real. The project’s ongoing success is thanks to the incredible team who run the building (@rebeccafincham_ @millie_souter @emma_youngman_grows @rachelrice_ ) and the volunteers and collaborators who make so much possible. It’s been a privilege to be part of it - long may it continue to flourish.

🌱NEW EVENT! A ONE DAY SYMPOSIUM ON THE SAFE GREEN SPACE: THE LANDSCAPE OF SOCIAL & THERAPEUTIC HORTICULTURE 🗓️Thursday 19 March 2026, 10am-4.30pm 📍The Apple House, Bedmond, Hertfordshire WD50RZ 🎟️ £95 / £50 (students & under 28s) plus 3 bursary places, including talks, refreshments, a home cooked lunch, access to The Plant Library & a workshop Following the sold-out successes of our past Safe Green Space symposiums, this one-day symposium dedicated to exploring the current and future landscapes of social therapeutic horticulture and social prescribing is now on sale. From accreditation to funding, from freelance practitioners to community projects, from pay to best practice, join us to map the future of social and therapeutic horticulture as an industry and a vocation. Our expert speakers include: 🌱Molly Aldam of @nasp_insta 🌱@annanorthumbrian Trustee of @gardening4health 🌱@helen_bridle of @defencegardens 🌱@richardclaxtongardens of @nationalgardenscheme 🌱@sarah1galvin of @the_rhs 🌱@lindyloupetrons_ of @greenfingerscharity 🌱@keelysiddiqui of @sunnysiderural 🌱Dr Honey Smith of @greener_practice 🌱@suestuartsmith of @sergehillproject 🌱Ben Thomas @thrivecharity 🌱Madeleine Thomas of @rosemary_thyme_outdoors 🌱Lucy Thorpe @naturefornurture2023 This event is unmissable for social therapeutic horticulture practitioners, social prescribers, gardeners, occupational therapists, GPs, community projects, charities, not-for-profits and anyone with an interest in the power and potential of social therapeutic horticulture. Hosted by the Serge Hill Project in collaboration with @cihort Social and Therapeutic Horticulture Group. Places limited. Book early to avoid dissapointment. See link in bio. #sergehillproject #socialtherapeutichorticulture #therapeutichorticulture

Loving these clear, cold days with the crunch of ice underfoot and the incredible brilliance of the supermoon by night - still hanging in the morning sky in the first photo. The next three are of the Barn garden followed by three taken in the plant library, all from this morning. Whilst the last four were shot as daylight was fading. A beautiful start to 2026. Wishing everyone peace and joy in the year ahead.